July 31, 2017 07:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

ROCKVILLE, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Immunomic Therapeutics, Inc. (ITI), a privately held, Maryland-based biotechnology company is pleased to welcome a new oncology advisor, Duke University’s John H. Sampson, MD, Ph.D., to the Immunomic scientific advisory board as the company pursues application of the investigational LAMP-Vax™ platform technology in oncology.

Dr. Sampson will advise on scientific and technical matters relating to brain tumors and the application of LAMP-Vax in oncology, including the new research combining LAMP technology and a cytomegalovirus (CMV) immunotherapy platform, recently announced in a licensing agreement between Immunomic and Annias Immunotherapeutics. The agreement aims to support and accelerate development of a potential new generation of cancer immunotherapy. Currently, the Phase II trial, called ATTAC-II (NCT02465268), is recruiting participants with newly-diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM).

“Immunomic Therapeutics has focused on nucleic acid-based vaccines and is working to enhance the immunogenicity of vaccine formulations through its LAMP technology. These efforts are aimed at advancing cancer vaccine development for pediatric and adult patients with brain cancer,” said Dr. Sampson. “Current studies are underway to determine whether LAMP technology has the potential to alter oncology treatment and I am pleased to be working with Immunomic to further GBM research.”

Dr. Sampson is at the forefront of neurosurgery and is highly regarded for his innovative research in drug delivery to the brain and immunotherapy for brain tumors. Sampson serves as Duke University’s Chair for the Department of Neurosurgery. He is also the Robert H. and Gloria Wilkins Distinguished Professor of Surgery. Sampson earned his Ph.D. from Duke University Medical Center in neuro-oncology and completed his residency and fellowship at Duke University Medical Center.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Sampson to our scientific advisory board,” stated Teri Heiland, Ph.D., Immunomic’s Senior Vice President of Research and Development. “His expertise will provide a tremendous resource as we continue to explore application of LAMP technology in oncology.”

About ITI

Immunomic Therapeutics, Inc. (ITI) is a privately-held clinical stage biotechnology company pioneering the study of the LAMP-based nucleic acid immunotherapy platforms. These investigational technologies have the potential to alter how we use immunotherapy for cancer, allergies and animal health. On the heels of two landmark deals in 2015, including an exclusive worldwide license with Astellas Pharma Inc. to explore the use of LAMP-Vax for use in the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases which resulted in over $350M in licensing revenue that year, the company has now focused on the application of LAMP technology in oncology. For information about ITI and LAMP Technology, visit www.immunomix.com.

About LAMP-Vax

ITI’s investigational LAMP-Vax platform is thought to work by encoding the Lysosomal Associated Membrane Protein, an endogenous protein in humans. In this way, ITI’s vaccines (DNA or RNA) have the potential to utilize the body’s natural biochemistry to develop a broad immune response including antibody production, cytokine release and critical immunological memory. This approach could put LAMP-Vax technology at the crossroads of immunotherapies in a number of illnesses, including cancer, allergy and infectious diseases. LAMP is currently being employed in Phase II clinical trials as a cancer immunotherapy. ITI is also collaborating with academic centers and biotechnology companies to study the use of LAMP in cancer types of high mortality, including cases where there are limited treatment options like glioblastoma and acute myeloid leukemia. ITI believes that these early clinical studies may provide a proof of concept for LAMP-Vax therapy in cancer, and if successful, set the stage for future studies, including combinations in these tumor types and others. Preclinical data is currently being developed to explore whether LAMP nucleic acid constructs may amplify and activate the immune response in highly immunogenic tumor types and be used to create immune responses to tumor types that otherwise do not provoke an immune response.

Contacts
Immunomic Therapeutics, Inc.
Sia Anagnostou, 717-327-1822